Diego Collados Grammar of the Japanese Language | Page 8

Cana.[17] The term Goyn, not only indicates
the syllables, or Cana, which are transformed to others, such as Fa, Fe,
Fi, Fo, Fu, which are changed to the closely related sounds Ba, Be, Bi,
Bo, Bu and Pa, Pe, Pi, Po, Pu; but it also indicates another kind of
change from one sound to another in the same order (ordem), as
happens among the syllables Fa, Fe, Fi, Fo, Fu. Ba, Be, Bi, Bo, Bu. Ma,
Me, Mi, Mo, Mu, {16} etc. where often by rule (regna) Ma is changed
to Mi; or to the contrary Bu to Ba and Bi to Ba, and likewise for others.
The greater part of the formation of the tenses of each mood is confined
to such changes, as is clearly seen in the way one writes the tense
forms with Cana. It is to this that another change belongs. That which
exists among those syllables having a certain relationship and rapport
between them, as Ma, Fa, Ba
, Pa; Me, Fe, Be, Pe; Mi, Fi, Bi, Pi; Mo,
Fo, Bo, Po; Mu, Fu, Bu, Pu; with Mu and V. Thus, what is written Vma
in Cana is written Muma, and Mume written for Vme in order to
conform more closely to its pronunciation.[18] Also Mu is written for
Bu[19] so that all the harmony (armonia) in the formations of this
language are contained in the rules for Goyn and Canadzucai. Those
who are informed see, as native speakers, how the tenses are formed
for any mood, and which letter, or syllable, must be changed to another
to affect a formation. Concerning this matter there is a booklet[20]
which teaches Canadzucai, and the general rules on the subject.
Teachers should have this booklet to teach more easily and
advantageously those students who are learning Cana. Lacking a
knowledge of Goyn and Canadzucai, some of the rules which until now
have been used in the formation of verbs (some of which I have let
remain as they were), are not the original and natural rules as are the
Goyn.[21] They are rather devices, some forming affirmative tenses
and moods from negative forms and others forming them from yet other
more remote sources, which appear to correspond to formational rules,
but for which the proper rules are not known. The fact is that the
affirmative as well as negative are formed from the affirmative,
beginning with the root, as will be seen below.
Speaking in general of the formation of the verb, the forms of the
indicative and imperative moods of all three conjugations are formed
from the root of the verb. The rest of the tenses in the other affirmative

moods are formed from either the indicative or imperative forms. In the
same way, the negative indicative present is formed from the root of the
verb and the other tenses of the indicative are formed from {17} the
present form. The other negative moods are formed from the indicative
forms.
FORMATION OF THE TENSES FOR THE INDICATIVE AND
IMPERATIVE MOODS OF THE VERBS OF THE FIRST
AFFIRMATIVE CONJUGATION
The final syllables of the roots of the first affirmative conjugation, by
which the verbs conjugated here are known, and from which the tenses
of the indicative will be formed, end in E, with the exception of the verb
"to do," Xi, or Ii, with its compounds and certain other verbs which end
in I. The verbs which belong to the first conjugation, are as follows [in
Charts A & B].
The verb Xi "to do," with its compounds ending in Xi or Ii, follows the
formation of the verbs of the first conjugation. Ii is Xi which has been
changed (alterado) to Ii because it follows the letter N. Xiconforms to
the rules for the syllables which are changed (se mudam) to others.
Thus:
Xi In the present change Xi to Suru, xita, xeô, ôzu, ôzuru, Suru. In the
preterit add xeyo, xenu, or zu. Faixi Ta to the root. In the future
Faisuru, faixita, faixeô, change Xi to Xeô. In the faixeyo, faixenu.
Tayxi[22] imperative change Xi to Xe Tassuru, taxxita, taxxeò, and
add Yo, i, or sai. In taxxeyo, taxxenu. Gaxxi the negative add Nu, or zu
Gassuru, gaxxita, gaxxeô, to Xe. gaxxeyo, gaxxenu.
Zonji In the present Ii is changed Zonzuru, zonjita, zonjeô, to Zuru. In
the preterit Ta ôzu, ôzuru, zonjeyo, is added to the root. In the zonjenu.
Caronji future Ii is changed to Ieô, Caronzuru, caronjita, etc.
etc.
Vomonji Vomonzuru, vomonjita. Sanji Sanzuru, sanjita. Goranji
Goranzuru, goranjita. Soranji Soranzuru, soranjita. Ganji Canzuru,
canjita. Manji Manzuru, manjita.

Many of these verbs have another, less used, form made by adding Ru
to the root; e.g., Abi, abiru; Mochiy, mochiyru; xiy, xiyru. Among
these are some that have only this second form and lack the first;